All-Ireland SFC final: Kerry and Mayo player-by-player
Jack Carney is a crafty player who poses a two-point threat for Mayo while Kerry centre-back Mike Breen has become a creative force for the Kingdom. Pic: ©INPHO/Ryan Byrne
It is nine years since Murphy made his championship debut, but he has only made 13 appearances. Can Kerry make history with back-to-back All-Star goalkeepers with two different players?
Their kickout is an obvious weapon. Murphy has made some big saves too, although one was overshadowed due to the goal-line controversy that followed. His response since a tough day in the league final has been admirable.
The 34-year-old found the going tough at times against Dublin. He is bidding to become a four-time All-Ireland winner having been Man of the Match in the 2014 decider. Murphy did not start the 2022 final with Graham O’Sullivan and Tom O’Sullivan starting in the corners. One of their vital veterans.
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The Ballydonoghue man has 52 championship appearances in green and gold. He learned his remarkable running dynamics at Listowel Athletic Club. He spoke impressively before last year’s final about his work as a special needs assistant at Nagle-Rice Primary School in Milltown. A good outing should secure him a second All-Star.
He previously endured a tough outing against Mayo in 2023 when he marked Aidan O’Shea. That day Kerry’s 39-match unbeaten home championship run came to an end. He has been a crucial cog this season, especially given their injuries.
Mr versatile. He can operate in almost every line. He has assisted 14 points this year and scored 0-6. One of six players who were not nominated for an All-Star in 2025.
A creative force. Breen has created a total of 24 points this season. Jack O’Connor consistently heralds his essential work, having worked with him as a minor previously.
The man who lifted their 39th Sam Maguire and was named man of the match that night.
The 29-year-old has had serious injury issues in 2026, yet still managed to come in as a late change before throw-in for the quarter-final and thrive. Will Mayo dedicate a man to track him, like they did with Sam Callinan on Craig Lennon in the semi-final?
The 28-year-old became the oldest first-time All-Ireland SFC winner as a starter last year since Tadhg Kennelly who was 28 in 2009 (Donnchadh Walsh was 30 in 2014 but had been part of ’09 panel).
He is a beast around the middle and he gives them depth by running into the full-forward line to occupy defenders. Interestingly, he was one of three players who didn’t kick the ball once in the 2025 decider. The other two were Dylan Casey and Jason Foley.
O’Shea has never scored for Kerry. What a day it would be to get your first.
A two-time Kerry U20 captain. His punch runs to the inside line helped him to score two points against Donegal last year as well as the contentious goal against Dublin. Kerry selector James Costello worked with him as a minor and played him wing-back. One of several starters who played a lot of basketball.
A former rugby prospect who was with the Munster U18s back in 2016 before he committed fully to football. The nominated captain in 2022, his story last year was remarkable as a cruciate setback saw him recover to become a Footballer of the Year contender. His brother is London-based fashion director James.
The glue. A warrior. After the Armagh game, Jack O’Connor revealed they were worried O’Shea would miss the entire season due to his recent injury. At times in the semi-final, it looked like the tank was running dry. Somehow he rallied again, such as when he caught a mark and carried it back out to curl over a gorgeous score from outside the arc.
Off the field, this year he set up a new business with his partner Molly O’Brien, sister of former Kerry star Stephen. It is called SONAÍ and supports children’s physical development.
At first, he was an all-action wing-forward. O’Connor broke into the Kerry team in 2019 when they had David Moran, Jack Barry and Adrian Spillane as midfield options. Gradually, they needed him in midfield. He works as a teacher at Gaelcoláiste Chiarraí.
After the semi-final, O’Connor was interviewed by RTÉ pitchside and asked whether they targeted inside marks. His answer was comically reserved: “No. I wouldn’t say so. I think it is just fellas using their heads.”
The well-told arc is that he wasn’t a Kerry minor or U21. A diehard Aston Villa and Pittsburgh Steelers fan, the 28-year-old has timed his run perfectly for two successive years. He has scored 1-18 from 24 shots.
91 shots. 92 scores. What else do you need to know?
The three-time Footballer of the Year has scored 9-12-41 so far. He is also tied as their second-best assister. He is currently third on the all-time championship scoring list, just behind Colm Cooper. His dual with Donnacha McHugh in the 2025 league final saw then Mayo-boss Kevin McStay frustrated.
“I think he is a fabulous player in the game but I thought today he got well looked after,” he said.
Second on their scoring list for 2026. He has scored a total of 37 points from 34 shots. His two-point ability is proven, four from five with the one that dropped short ending in a goal anyway. Has any player a better record of missed two-point attempts? After that wonder kick in Thurles in the Munster club final last December, Geaney revealed he was trying to kick it to the edge of the square.
He has carried his Dingle form into this campaign.
Keith Evans has a habit of delivering golden moments from the bench, such as his stunning block against Tyrone. Shane Ryan, Tom O’Sullivan, Tadhg Morley and Brian Ó Beaglaíoch have all started All-Ireland finals.
Brian Ó Beaglaíoch is looking to add to an impressive medal collection. He is a double Hogan Cup winner as part of a stacked Pobalscoil Chorca Dhuibhne side that included O’Sullivan and Mark O’Connor. He is a Sigerson Cup winner too.
Captain Geaney has crossed over golden generations. Just think about the Dingle man’s championship debut. It was in 2013 against Cavan at Croke Park. Paul Galvin, Colm Cooper, Donnacha Walsh, Declan O’Sullivan, Kieran Donaghy and Darran O’Sullivan were their starting front six.
What he did for his club in 2025 was extraordinary. The payoff was obvious, the price has been lingering injury issues, the latest of which ruled him out of the semi-final. Do not be surprised if we see his aerial ability in this game, just like 2014.
Cian O’Neill is bidding for his fourth All-Ireland title, 16 years after his first with the Tipperary hurlers. They have a famous water-carrier in Kieran Donaghy. James Costello is a highly-regarded coach who previously worked with the county minors as well as Clare. Interestingly, when Jack O’Connor rebuilt his ticket in 2025, the man who was listed as assistant coach to O’Neill was Pa McCarthy.
Aodán MacGearailt is an All-Ireland winner as a player and a coach. Armagh native Colin Trainor is their analyst.
Trainor previously worked in professional soccer and wrote for StatsBomb, a data source for player recruitment, performance analysis and opposition scouting.
Clubs across the world currently used a metric called PPDA. It is a means of measuring the intensity of a high press. Trainor invented it. One particular detailed blog on Dortmund’s form gained so much traction that the club themselves shared a link online. When Bournemouth were first promoted to the Premier League, Trainor came on board as a consultant.
He didn’t play minor or under 20 with the county, but always wanted to emulate his club mate Rob Hennelly and ended up taking his spot during this campaign. His kick outs will be targeted but he’s not one for letting the pressure show either. Everything is on his terms.
First All-Ireland final in his fourth year. Made captain in the autumn off the back of a brilliant 2025 season. His debut year included a superb defensive effort in Mayo’s win in Killarney. Back to his best since Mayo hit Croke Park.
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At his best when he’s roving around the field tracking a key opponent, Brian Fenton, Michael Murphy and Steven Sherlock have all had the treatment. If he’s assigned to David Clifford he’ll be tested in a whole new way. It’s his 53rd appearance since his debut in 2022.
One of three teenagers in the team. A leading man for Garrymore last year and earmarked by Moran for a key role as a result. As a marker, he is relentless in his pursuit of the ball but cunning in how he can shadow and discourage.
The engine for Mayo. He will launch attacks or track a dangerous opponent, one of the options for Paudie Clifford, not as accurate as others when he gets forward but hugely effective at cutting holes in defensive shields.
he club that produced Kevin Cahill know a good full back when they have him. His club mate Andy Moran understands his strengths. Has moved between midfield, centre backs and at times his more natural full back role this season but the six jersey is where he’s settled.
As soon as the All-Ireland series started, Hession hit top form and hasn’t stopped, defensively sound and good for points too if needed, another that might be tasked with keeping tabs on Paudie Clifford, he’ll embrace such a challenge. His second All Ireland final.
Some storming exhibitions of fielding during the early stages of the league, hasn’t been able to replicate such feats in the championship and might be targeted by Kerry. But it’s worth noting that while he’s not catching clean balls, his opponents aren’t either.
His 2022 man of the match display for Kilmeena in the All Ireland Junior final was his finest hour to date. When he starts to feel like he’s in the ascendancy, the problems begin for opponents. Crafty player who possesses a two point threat with six from play so far in championship.
In the side for his leadership and positional awareness, at his best when he’s plugging gaps and making quick smart decisions. Captained Mayo to All-Irelands at minor in 2013 and under 21 in 2016, plus he was UCD captain when they won the Sigerson in 2018.
Sunday will be his 99th appearance in all competitions, scored 1-2 from the bench on his championship debut in 2016 and this will be his fifth All Ireland Final. Won an All Ireland intermediate title with Crossmolina at the venue in the January 2025, scoring the winning penalty.
His third All Ireland Final and first start, Flynn is part of the core leadership group. Repurposed this year as a powerhouse in the middle, he’s fulfilling the kind of role Seamus O’Shea used to do for Mayo. Could provide a couple of critical additional scorers too.
The ciotóg has notched up 4-27 in his debut year at the age of 19. He finishes goals with finesse and can blast points from beyond the arch too. He’s a threat off the right and his trajectory is only pointing up. Scoring four points per game in Championship football.
His third All Ireland final. Carried so much on his shoulders in 2021 when Cillian O’Connor was out but no longer foraging a lone foray. His physicality and ability to turnover possession marks him out as more than just the team's top marksman. Averages eight points per game.
The team’s heartbeat. Provides aerial prowess, long range passing and deadly finishing. A joyfully creative attacker. The jibes and jeers he shipped in Tralee can’t be far from his mind this week. Kicked 2-32 in nine games for his county including five beyond the arch.
Tommy Conroy is key, his impact from the bench has been immense, the first signs of his return to form of old were in Omagh against Tyrone and his performances in the three games since have brought points, assists and earned frees. Cian McHale is another talented option up front.
Around the middle, Mayo have options, Matthew Ruane has become a go to option after a long spell out with injuries, Diarmuid O’Connor is back involved and had a major impact during the win over Meath and there’s more experience that in Paddy Durcan and Aidan O’Shea.
Also worth noting that Fenton Kelly has put in some strong performances when brought in and Mayo are likely to utilise almost all their options here if the game goes to extra time as there’s no player that won’t be able to step in if needed.
Here’s a quote from Andy Moran’s opening press conference back in August when asked if he’s targeting All-Irelands. “I think you can make incremental gains and then you can make huge gains. In 2011 we should have lost to London, two months later we beat the reigning champions Cork. You’ll make small gains, no one sees them and all of a sudden you’re competing in All-Ireland finals.”
Moran’s team includes his old comrade Colm Boyle who thinks forensically on the game and you can’t help but feel that his track record rubs off on the young players who know he’s asking nothing of them that he wouldn’t expect from himself.
Then there’s Paddy Tally, a man who Moran met once and felt chimed with his philosophy on how to set a team up in the new game. Tally took some heat during Mayo’s dip in form but he’s taking plenty of praise for their Croke Park shape. All Ireland winning Donegal ‘keeper Paul Durcan is there too.
Ultimately though the team encapsulates Andy’s attack centred approach to football that ensures collective drive and work rate provides the bedrock to fast transitions and getting the ball into the hands of proven finishers. Not unlike Padraic Joyce’s first year with Galway in 2022.
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